I doubt it. I can rattle can decently and paint a 1:48 scale model plane ok, but welding, sanding, bondo and myself aren't acquainted.
Progress Thread HeHateMe gets bent
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The bumper tuck is simply a matter of drilling a few holes in the “shock absorber” that holds that bumper off the car like it has buck teeth, then beating it with a hammer till the foamy googe that’s inside squirts out, and collapses, then welding it that way.
this car had nothing more than what I described.
and Ohh look!......Early Mustang interior! ( minis the Pontiac Fiero bucket seats)
this car had nothing more than what I described.
and Ohh look!......Early Mustang interior! ( minis the Pontiac Fiero bucket seats)
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The Futura and similar Mercs are cool. Instead though, If I had not driven a Grand Marquis, I would be doing a baby blue 4 door Fairmont with mufflers as a sleeper. The Merc is nicer than I could realistically make a Futura by myself, so I only bench race the idea. I found an example to start with. The GT 10 hole rims in this picture give it away a bit, but the vinyl roof on this one makes it look even more 70’s slow.
You could chop some of The 17” extra length out of one if space is that big of a deal. Just do not chop out too much. The last time I posted a picture of one it made Mad Mike sad.
The Falcon could be fun, but this is the wrong generation of Mustang strand for it.
You could chop some of The 17” extra length out of one if space is that big of a deal. Just do not chop out too much. The last time I posted a picture of one it made Mad Mike sad.
The Falcon could be fun, but this is the wrong generation of Mustang strand for it.
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Today's the day, we get down to brass tacks. I'm still not sold on the Mont. No offense Mikey2Times. I think it comes down to one thing. How much is he willing to pay outright for the 85 as a roller. I think if he would give $2-2500 for it, I'd pass the Mont and get this:
The other side is about the same....some rust on the bottom of the door and rear arch. The trunk is pretty much rusted out, but I'll be putting in an efi tank or fuel cell. With a cage and subframe connectors It'll be pretty solid. I actually think just get a color match and paint the rust/bondo areas and roll with the patina.
The nice thing, 1963 Falcon curb weight 2300 lbs! AJE makes a K-member and A arms to use SN95 spindles and brakes and fox struts and rack.
The other side is about the same....some rust on the bottom of the door and rear arch. The trunk is pretty much rusted out, but I'll be putting in an efi tank or fuel cell. With a cage and subframe connectors It'll be pretty solid. I actually think just get a color match and paint the rust/bondo areas and roll with the patina.
The nice thing, 1963 Falcon curb weight 2300 lbs! AJE makes a K-member and A arms to use SN95 spindles and brakes and fox struts and rack.
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You can lead a horse to water........Today's the day, we get down to brass tacks. I'm still not sold on the Mont. No offense Mikey2Times. I think it comes down to one thing. How much is he willing to pay outright for the 85 as a roller. I think if he would give $2-2500 for it, I'd pass the Mont and get this:
The other side is about the same....some rust on the bottom of the door and rear arch. The trunk is pretty much rusted out, but I'll be putting in an efi tank or fuel cell. With a cage and subframe connectors It'll be pretty solid. I actually think just get a color match and paint the rust/bondo areas and roll with the patina.
The nice thing, 1963 Falcon curb weight 2300 lbs! AJE makes a K-member and A arms to use SN95 spindles and breaks and fox struts and rack.
Talk about going from rags to riches...a Falcon of that year is a pre-64 Mustang.
Read:
Tiny engine compartment, (forget about anything bigger than a 5.0) antiquated front suspension, ( that’ll be worn the phck out) Excepting that K member swap( I’d be curious as to how much that thing costs) ZERO aftermarket. A leaf spring rear end that makes even an 8” ford look like a Fab 9 comparitively, ( with nothing else that will readily bolt in to replace it with) and no room in the quarters for even an 8x26x15 drag slick. Why you’d trade away a fox platform with its infinite aftermarket, interchangeability, and ( depending on the car) releative low weight is mind boggling. There is no other car that is as literally ready to race besides a Notch Fox body mustang.
Even if you dont do the Fairmont, any fox platform car has a Kmember in it already that accepts SN 95 stuff, with the main thing being that if you don’t want to, swap the “ Brakes” you don’t have to. With an engine compartment that will easily accommodate anything you want to drop in there.
You had a car that sat in the garage untouched forever for whatever reason(s)..Dont put a monster in your path.
Well, that 62 is gone...it was too far away to go see in person and I didn't have a place to stash it with the 85 still here. And I noticed he lowered the price from $800 to $600 yesterday, so there's that. I probably would have driven 6 hours each way to buy it sight unseen for $600, because it was complete minus motor and trans.
The AJE crossmember and A-arms are about $800. I have the coilover struts, would need SN95 spindles/brakes, and caster/camber plates. I probably would mini-tub the Mont, so mini tubbing and moving the leafs inboard is no big deal on a Falcon. Mainly, I always have loved the look of the 60-63 Falcons. An 8.8 or 9inch would be an easy fab. Some caltracs and people cut 1.3 60's with leafs and caltracs. I don't think the 2.3 has enough ass to cut low 1.3 60's without adding some spray at the release.
But, yes the Fox platform is why I picked the 85 in the first place. I've mainly not done a lot to it for 2 reasons. I couldn't decide which way to go. AutoX type handling, RestoMod or drag race. In the last couple of years it's been more drag race, but I couldn't bring myself to start gutting this car. I still might. But as of right now, if he wants to trade rollers and throw some cash my way, I'm probably the Green Iguana owner. (Although it is white right now). Of course, I may find the deal to be more to my liking if he just buys my car. Then I can buy another Fox, or Falcon, or Maverick. It all will hinge on his offer with the Fairmont...and more pics. He said he has another driver fender and hood for it, so it would be a complete roller.
You can lead a horse to water........
Talk about going from rags to riches...a Falcon of that year is a pre-64 Mustang.
Read:
Tiny engine compartment, (forget about anything bigger than a 5.0) antiquated front suspension, ( that’ll be worn the phck out) Excepting that K member swap( I’d be curious as to how much that thing costs) ZERO aftermarket. A leaf spring rear end that makes even an 8” ford look like a Fab 9 comparitively, ( with nothing else that will readily bolt in to replace it with) and no room in the quarters for even an 8x26x15 drag slick. Why you’d trade away a fox platform with its infinite aftermarket, interchangeability, and ( depending on the car) releative low weight is mind boggling. There is no other car that is as literally ready to race besides a Notch Fox body mustang.
Even if you dont do the Fairmont, any fox platform car has a Kmember in it already that accepts SN 95 stuff, with the main thing being that if you don’t want to, swap the “ Brakes” you don’t have to. With an engine compartment that will easily accommodate anything you want to drop in there.
You had a car that sat in the garage untouched forever for whatever reason(s)..Dont put a monster in your path.
The AJE crossmember and A-arms are about $800. I have the coilover struts, would need SN95 spindles/brakes, and caster/camber plates. I probably would mini-tub the Mont, so mini tubbing and moving the leafs inboard is no big deal on a Falcon. Mainly, I always have loved the look of the 60-63 Falcons. An 8.8 or 9inch would be an easy fab. Some caltracs and people cut 1.3 60's with leafs and caltracs. I don't think the 2.3 has enough ass to cut low 1.3 60's without adding some spray at the release.
But, yes the Fox platform is why I picked the 85 in the first place. I've mainly not done a lot to it for 2 reasons. I couldn't decide which way to go. AutoX type handling, RestoMod or drag race. In the last couple of years it's been more drag race, but I couldn't bring myself to start gutting this car. I still might. But as of right now, if he wants to trade rollers and throw some cash my way, I'm probably the Green Iguana owner. (Although it is white right now). Of course, I may find the deal to be more to my liking if he just buys my car. Then I can buy another Fox, or Falcon, or Maverick. It all will hinge on his offer with the Fairmont...and more pics. He said he has another driver fender and hood for it, so it would be a complete roller.
look at the dash pad.....I’ve never seen one that wasn’t cracked and rotted to hell..it looks like it has all of its tail light lenses, and the glass all appears to be good. that’d be reason enough for me.Well, that 62 is gone...it was too far away to go see in person and I didn't have a place to stash it with the 85 still here. And I noticed he lowered the price from $800 to $600 yesterday, so there's that. I probably would have driven 6 hours each way to buy it sight unseen for $600, because it was complete minus motor and trans.
The AJE crossmember and A-arms are about $800. I have the coilover struts, would need SN95 spindles/brakes, and caster/camber plates. I probably would mini-tub the Mont, so mini tubbing and moving the leafs inboard is no big deal on a Falcon. Mainly, I always have loved the look of the 60-63 Falcons. An 8.8 or 9inch would be an easy fab. Some caltracs and people cut 1.3 60's with leafs and caltracs. I don't think the 2.3 has enough ass to cut low 1.3 60's without adding some spray at the release.
But, yes the Fox platform is why I picked the 85 in the first place. I've mainly not done a lot to it for 2 reasons. I couldn't decide which way to go. AutoX type handling, RestoMod or drag race. In the last couple of years it's been more drag race, but I couldn't bring myself to start gutting this car. I still might. But as of right now, if he wants to trade rollers and throw some cash my way, I'm probably the Green Iguana owner. (Although it is white right now). Of course, I may find the deal to be more to my liking if he just buys my car. Then I can buy another Fox, or Falcon, or Maverick. It all will hinge on his offer with the Fairmont...and more pics. He said he has another driver fender and hood for it, so it would be a complete roller.
I think it's supposed to be a 50,000 mile original that was parked in 94 in a barn. So yeah...it's got that going for it. Plus I already have a lot of parts, he has some parts to come with it, and I can probably bargain for some of the stuff on the 85 I want to keep.
We'd talked at length. The dashpad greatness stops where the picture ends. He said the driver's side of the dashpad is trash. He also has a 73 Maverick that is a little rougher, but complete. So I am waiting on him to get some walk around vids and more pictures on each. Just because of the Fox platform, I am leaning more Mont direction...but my first car love was a Maverick. I am waiting to see how much body rust it has. And then go from there.
I would rather he just buy my roller, but he's building a house, so I don't know if that's going to work for him. So it's probably going to be roller/roller trade.
- Mar 7, 2002
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I'll be the other little devil on the shoulder.
Screw it, go for the Falcon or the Maverick. Aftermarket schmaftermarket.
While Fairmonts are almost as obscure as foxes get (there's also the LTD and Granada that both spent all of four and two years on the fox chassis... Ford of the 1980s was confusing as hell), the whole Mustang aftermarket smorgasboard bolts into it, and that just makes
way too easy and uninteresting unless you Mike the thing to death completely reimagining it from the pavement up.
Do the Falcon. Mustang II crossmemember it, buy a used 9" housing from a Nascar team for next to nothing that's ready to be narrowed or go even cheaper and buy a full Explorer 8.8 that already has everything, along with a second short axle, and narrow that (with a 3.73 or 4.10 gear on a 31spline diff with limited slip and disc brakes already in place), shoehorn in a Windsor with your choice of transmission, modifying the tunnel if you have to, and tub the sucker if you want to put a big tire on the back and go drag racing.
Or screw the Falcon, who wants that ol' thing anyway? Buy the Maverick. It looks better than a Fairmont to begin with, can fit bigger wheels and tires than the Falcon while still stock, and if Gapp and Roush can make one fast, so can you!
@RaggedGT @General karthief Did I do it right?
Screw it, go for the Falcon or the Maverick. Aftermarket schmaftermarket.
While Fairmonts are almost as obscure as foxes get (there's also the LTD and Granada that both spent all of four and two years on the fox chassis... Ford of the 1980s was confusing as hell), the whole Mustang aftermarket smorgasboard bolts into it, and that just makes
way too easy and uninteresting unless you Mike the thing to death completely reimagining it from the pavement up.Do the Falcon. Mustang II crossmemember it, buy a used 9" housing from a Nascar team for next to nothing that's ready to be narrowed or go even cheaper and buy a full Explorer 8.8 that already has everything, along with a second short axle, and narrow that (with a 3.73 or 4.10 gear on a 31spline diff with limited slip and disc brakes already in place), shoehorn in a Windsor with your choice of transmission, modifying the tunnel if you have to, and tub the sucker if you want to put a big tire on the back and go drag racing.
Or screw the Falcon, who wants that ol' thing anyway? Buy the Maverick. It looks better than a Fairmont to begin with, can fit bigger wheels and tires than the Falcon while still stock, and if Gapp and Roush can make one fast, so can you!
@RaggedGT @General karthief Did I do it right?
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@74stang2togo with friends like you, who needs enemies or Fox bodies!?!?! Haha. I got to thinking, it should be easy on a Mav or Falcon to use bars in the front leaf mount and then either something like a Max Motorsports torque arm or even a Battle box to mount an actual Fox 8.8. Turns out, AJE makes a fab'd cradle to go in early mustangs and mavericks that mounts the upper bars on the rear end and the lower bars go into the front leaf pockets. So you can pretty much have a front and rear Fox suspension setup. Although I think leaf springs can be made to work pretty well with some Cal-tracs and are easy enough to move inboard for clearance and use coil overs.
So I wait for him to go to where he has the Mav stored. He says it has a little body rust. I'm no body guy, so I am hesitant to see it. I can handle floor pans and structural fabrication. Just not sure I have the skills to make panel repairs and not have to spray bedliner on the car to hide the welts.
So I wait for him to go to where he has the Mav stored. He says it has a little body rust. I'm no body guy, so I am hesitant to see it. I can handle floor pans and structural fabrication. Just not sure I have the skills to make panel repairs and not have to spray bedliner on the car to hide the welts.
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I'm just the crazy m-effer who looked at a Mustang II one day and said "bet I can make it fast." after a couple of 13-second fox bodies (and a 4-banger fox body and a 4-banger Mustang II).
I like the weird cars, I've got a German-built Ford Capri Mk II in the garage waiting me to finish the 5.0 swap I started years ago.
It’s like the title says:
Time to stop and think.....No make that:
Time to go to a mental rehab facility and check yourself in for about a month.
It kills me as to how big the letters are that are written on the wall in this example.
You have minimal skill with body repair but you’re posting pictures of cars ( or talking about) that are full of rust, requiring extensive body skills.
Youre talking about all the work you’re gonna have to do swapping out this k member, or that 8.8 with this kit, or that kit and making a 19” century rear suspension work with some sort of dorky traction bar. and even if you do that....Swapping in a k member on a 60’s era shock tower car ( and both the falcon, and his later edition version the Maverick have massive shock towers) is gonna be a fairly intense time with a sawzall, and/or spot weld bit.
Then you’re left with that big assed open area that most of the hackers down here just cover up with pop-riveted in galvanized 24 ga steel from home depot.
Lets say you do that.
Then you’re taking an 8.8 out of.......Ohhhhh I don’t know...what? Some SN car?
It’s gonna be too long. And now you’ve got to narrow yourself one of those. Then buy new axles to fit it.
As I said before, neither the falcon or the mav have a wheel tub big enough for any decent sized tire, and now, not only are you having to relocate spring perches and hanging points, you’re cutting the hell out of the wheel tubs just to allow for a 10.0x26.0 slick or DR.( unless you plan on cutting the front of the quarters)
Add even more pop-riveted in 24 ga. sheetmetal.
Heres the knuckle rap on your forehead.....
HELLO,.....DREW!!!....YOU ALREADY HAVE THE CAR THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO FIT WHATEVER ENGINE YOU WANT IN IT!!! YOU ALREADY HAVE THE CAR THAT HAS AN 8.8, AND IF IT DOESNT, ONE WILL JUST BOLT RIGHT THE FCK IN. IT ALREADY HAS A DECENT SIZED WHEEL TUB, AND ONLY NEEDS MINI TUBBING TO ALLOW FOR A REALLY DECENT SIZED TIRE ( 10.5x28.5) Why do you spose every Chevy boy in the 90’s put a SBC in a Fox Mustang?
Why are you hell bent on adding a barn “find” to get “lost” in your garage?
PS...that 4 door Mav was the ugly phase for PRO-Stock....All that changed in 1978.
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Nope, wouldn't wish that pain in the ass in anybody here. Im just saying that he has the solution to his race car aspirations right outside of his kitchen door. It's the easiest, cheapest, and has the strongest availability of aftermarket and oem parts in the freaking country. AND...
it's a 4 eye car, so already somewhat less common than the rest of the cars here in the naval lint brigade.
I agree with ya mike. But----
On one occasion you are talking about 'dare to be different ' and the next you are advocating a 'somewhat' belly button build so I'm inclined to believe you not only suffer from auto-munchhausen syndrome you also have auto fickle syndrome.
I have a problem with 'auto hoarding'. I want to buy every obscure pos on 4 wheels that I think needs saving but do not have the room or the ability to bring back to life.
We may need an intervention.
On one occasion you are talking about 'dare to be different ' and the next you are advocating a 'somewhat' belly button build so I'm inclined to believe you not only suffer from auto-munchhausen syndrome you also have auto fickle syndrome.
I have a problem with 'auto hoarding'. I want to buy every obscure pos on 4 wheels that I think needs saving but do not have the room or the ability to bring back to life.
We may need an intervention.
It doesn’t take extensive body work skills to repair rust. Just the right tools and a willingness to try. You might have to do something twice, but you’re used to that.
Mike is saying he’s the only one around here who is allowed to be different. Anyone else who tries or expresses aspirations of such gets an immediate lecture that amounts to “that’s too much work, just stick with the belly button…lemming”.
Mike is saying he’s the only one around here who is allowed to be different. Anyone else who tries or expresses aspirations of such gets an immediate lecture that amounts to “that’s too much work, just stick with the belly button…lemming”.
Well...thats two for you now.
Making sure I eat my words before somebody else comes along and does it.
I don't profess to be the only one here that is willing to take on a non-traditional build. And I certainly don't claim to be the only one that can do it, even though you think it.
If somebody has had a car in the garage that has sat and that individual has posted subsequent threads with inferences that he either has too many other life issues, money, time, or lack of motivation that have gotten in the way of doing anything to the current car, going from easy, ( relatively speaking) to time consuming, costly, and difficult to complete, which always seems directly attached to causing a lack of motivation...it just seems to me that rather than give somebody the push off the cliff. It makes sense to hold them back from the brink.
Atta-boys to a novice body man only last about as long as it takes to grind through a 1/2" thick slab of bondo to reveal what's laying in wait when taking on bodywork and rust repair.
First, I appreciate your concern and unfettered use of caps. 2nd, I daily drove a 83 Regal with a 455 Buick with a 9 inch rear end we fab'd ourself on a table in a shop with more beers than a bar. I took that car from daily driver to back halved, caged, tubbed, with a fuel cell in pretty much less than 12 days. It was 4 straight weekends, from 5pm til 1 or 2am Sat morning, then from 7 or 8 am Sat til 1 or 2 am Sunday then from 7 or 8 am Sunday til about 10 or 11pm Sunday night then back to work Monday.
2nd, my biggest hangup on working on this car has really been lack of direction. I couldn't decide what to do with it. If I get a Maverick or Falcon, I KNOW what I want to do with it. Leaf springs may be 1800 tech, but for not a lot of money they can easily be made to work. Oh wait, that's right every 69 Camaro on the drag strip took out the leaf springs. I forgot.
In fact, years ago, I already back halved a Maverick and notched the shock towers. Was no big thing. But went off to college and my brother sold that car. I worked at the machine shop starting at 16. By the end of the summer I was doing complete head jobs. I'm sure I can stick some sheet metal together and cobble some bondo if need be. I figure easy thing is to start by relocating the leafs, get some 2 piece leafs and Caltracs and then if the need ever arises, just buy a jegster back half ladder bar or four link clip. But I think the leafs will work fine in up to a 9.90 car. After that, probably going to need more than a 2.3 and more bars on the cage.
3rd, this guy deserves this car back. I know it has a lot more sentimental value than cash value, but hey, I am a big softie. So if we can work out a deal that is favorable to both, then I'll do it.
I like to be different. I didn't pick a 455 Buick to put aluminum heads and methanol injection because it was easier than building a BBC. It was cool to beat BBC and then have those oaf's try to figure out what kind of engine it was.
I didn't run OS/2 back in the day instead of Windows because it was so easy a computer illiterate baboon could write term papers on it. I don't choose to be a Mississippi State Bulldog fan and watch us get killed every year by Alabama, Auburn and LSU because I'm in the "IN CROWD."
Finally, I really wanted a Maverick when I bought this 4 eye, but TOLD MYSELF, get the Mustang. It's a Fox body. There's tons of parts and it will be easy. Easy got boring, so I installed fuel injection. I made my own fuel sender to make my gauge work correctly with a late model efi tank. I made nylon efi lines connect up to the factory carb hardlines. Easy would have been to buy an 86-up.
So who knows....we may not make a deal. And Fox body cage is sitting in my shopping list at Jegs and Summit. But so is one for Falcon and Maverick.
In any event, I hope within the next month to know which way to go....after I have to spend $10,000 or so on a roof.
